The magistrate appointed to the inquiry on the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia has requested the Chief Justice to assign the case to another magistrate.

Scerri Herrera gave her ruling this morning after the Caruana Galizia family filed a court application to this effect.

Scerri Herrera had been the target of Caruana Galizia's writings in the past, and in her personal capacity had opened court cases against the journalist.

In her ruling, Scerri Herrera said that she had reached the conclusion that in view of the circumstances, it would be better for another magistrate to take over the inquiry.

Inquiring magistrates work on a roster basis and it was Scerri Herrera's turn to be on duty on Monday, when Caruana Galizia was killed.

Scerri Herrera, who had been on the site of the incident yesterday, said that given that justice needs to be done and also seen to be done, it would be correct for the inquiry to be assigned to another magistrate.

Magistrate Anthony Vella has been given the task by the Chief Justice.

In a statement, the Nationalist Party welcomed the decision taken by the magistrate, saying however that it should have been taken immediately, and not 17 hours after the fact.

The country should have never reached this stage, where public institutions including the police corps and the Armed Forces of Malta, are all rotting. This is a result of the country's administration in the last five years.

The people expect justice, the PN said.

In reply, the Labour Party said it will keep away from making partisan statements that do not make sense at this point in time.

The PL said it could refer to what was written by Caruana Galizia in the past months and play the same game, but responsibility towards the country and the people demands otherwise. It is sad that the PN has resorted to irresponsible statements in a delictae time, the PL said.

The PL added that what happened is condemnable and not acceptable in a democratic society, and welcome the government's commitment to increase the resources for the investigation for justice to be carried out as quickly as possible.